How Mityana Schools Became Learner-Friendly.

By Lillian Nalumansi School life has never been better for the pupils in 20 primary schools in Mityana. Ever since the introduction of the Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) programme, their previously hostile teachers have become friendly.They have stopped practicing corporal punishment courtesy of MLE which was introduced to improve the teacher-pupil relationship.Before MLE, teachers in these schools believed in the adage “spare the rod and spoil the child.” “Teachers were also negative about children’s rights but with MLE they now know that a child who asks a question does not deserve a beating,” says Mr Abel Baguma. Baguma who works for Kyambogo University is one of the MLE committee members. With a very harsh school environment and nobody to turn to, pupils started dodging classes and retention levels in Mityana’s primary schools drastically dropped.Together with the Save the children Norway, a five-member committee from Institute of teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) now Kyambogo University, introduced the MLE in June 1999.“With the MLE, we concentrated on improving the relationship between the teachers and their pupils. We started mainly with the teachers who had turned into a terror,” Monica Muheirwe MLE’s Project Coordinator says. Muheirwe is also a tutor. “Teachers were not only beating pupils but they were also sexually harassing the girls. Teachers were untouchable and this is the first group that we met,” Muheirwe adds.The programme was first introduced to 13 primary schools in Mityana and by 2001 an additional seven other schools were on the list.“When we met the teachers, we told them to immediately stop the drop the stick and spoil the child slogan. We told them that dialogue with their pupils would yield better results,” Muheirwe recalls. Education Vision found her at Busubizi Core Primary Teachers College (PTC), Mityana. This is where teachers implementing the outreach programme in the communities are trained. “Teachers learnt that it is alright to get a different opinion from their own pupils over what they teach. Pupils who used to sit in class just to listen now raise their hands without fear. School is now a stress free environment for the pupils,” Muheirwe says. “Of course the teachers first had a negative attitude but this later changed with more training. At Kyengeza Primary School for instance, enrolment, which previously was at 400, currently stands at 620. “Teachers are now very concerned about their pupils,” Fridah Nyanjura, a tutor at Busubizi PTC and the MLE Coordinator says.“In Kyengeza teachers also stopped dodging lessons. The pupils who used to hide in bushes after leaving home started reaching school,” Muheirwe says happily.Parents also had to be dealt with because while pupils and teachers had developed a better relationship, the home environment was very harsh especially for the girls.The girls would always reported to school late because they had to first do domestic chores,” Muheirwe recalls.“The girls have got an advantage out of the MLE programme. Parents now tell both boys and girls to get involved in housework. Boys and girls are allowed to play. MLE has done a lot for this community,” it was disclosed.George William Ddumba, head teacher, Naama Church of Uganda one of the MLE schools says: “Before this programme we had 368 pupils but only 80 of these were having paid for lunch by their parents. Now most parents pay lunch for their children.” Ends.